Lily took up her letter and turned away. She went up to her room, and walked right across to the window. Then she saw that the letter had been steamed open, and fastened down again rather clumsily. It was too bad of Aunt Cosy! It was hateful of her!
The letter ran as follows:
Dear Miss Fairfield,
This is to tell you that I am very, very glad you and I are friends as well as pals—pals as well as friends. I feel awfully distressed that such a fearful thing happened to you on Sunday. Remember your promise to your friend,
Angus Stuart.
CHAPTER XVII
“There is nothing else to be done, Angelo. I regret the necessity as much as you do.”
It was the day after Lily’s delightful drive with Beppo, and the words floated out to where she was sitting in the late morning sunshine. They were uttered by the Countess, whose sitting-room window was open.
The Count’s low answer to his wife’s observation took Lily somewhat by surprise, for he spoke with much more feeling than she had yet heard him display.
“I will not sully my lips by telling you the kind of information about Monte Carlo the old brute expected me to give him.”